FCSB's Chairman of the Administrative Council, Mihai Stoica, responded swiftly and sharply to Valeriu Iftime's criticism of FCSB players as "minstrels" before their Europa Conference League playoff semi-final. Iftime, the patron of FC Botoșani, made these remarks ahead of the decisive match between the two teams.

Stoica's Rebuke

Stoica considers Iftime's words to be inappropriate and draws attention to the fact that such "motivational" statements are not suitable for today's high-stakes matches, where players need to be highly focused and composed.

"It's very unpleasant what he [Valeriu Iftime] does, but it's not the first time. When Elias [Charalambous] was around, he [Iftime] used to provoke him regularly. If he [Iftime] likes to talk, let him talk. This business of pasting motivational statements in the locker room… Maybe it worked at some point. But those quotes on the walls don't do much anymore," Stoica commented.

The Playoffs Context

Stoica continued, "I believe Dawa [FCSB's coach] will be very determined. These are the basics. We've been in football for a while and have more experience than others. Are there players who don't know about this statement? No. It's not these things that make the difference. In matches like this, you have to be extremely focused and not have your knees trembling."

Stoica's response underscores the tension and rivalry between the two clubs and highlights the importance of maintaining focus and composure in crucial matches.